Donald "Donnie" Melling, Sr. 78, lifelong Adams County, ND Farmer/Rancher passed away at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.


Funeral services will be Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hettinger Lutheran Church with Pastor Kathleen Dettmann, Rev. Allen Wickstrom and Rev. Richard Wyman, officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow at the Hettinger Cemetery.


PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE FOR THE VISITATION.
Visitations will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26 followed by a gathering of Family and Friends at 5:00 p.m. at the Hettinger Lutheran Church and one hour prior to the Funeral on Saturday morning.


Donald "Donnie" Melling Sr. was born February 23, 1938 in Hettinger, ND to Peter and Bertha (Fuglesten) Melling. He attended country school in Duck Creek Township through the 8th grade and graduated from Hettinger High School in 1955. Don served in the Army and then returned to continue farming with his brothers and family.


On September 24, 1966 Donnie was united in marriage to Emma (Sittner) Burrer joining them were her children Eugene, Sherri, and Dave whom he raised as his own. In 1974 their son Donald Jr. was born.


Donnie farmed on the family farm and eventually purchased it and continued to do what he loved most "farming" and "custom harvesting" till his death. During the winter months Donnie and his brothers did carpentry work and drove truck hauling cattle and other commodities.


Donnie enjoyed watching his sons and grandsons work on the farm. On the farm he was known as "Chief" by many workers and family. He also enjoyed golf, shooting pool, trap shooting and playing pinochle with his brothers.


Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 49 years Emma, son Donald Jr. (LeiLani) Melling and his sons Kolson, Kolby, and Kaison of Hettinger, ND. Stepchildren Eugene Burrer of Hettinger, ND; Sherri Zimmerman (Scott Meade) Dickinson, ND; and Dave Burrer (Renee Miller) and his sons Alex and Brady of Hettinger, ND. His sister Irlene Ecker of Hettinger, ND; sister-in-laws June Melling of Hettinger, ND; Cindy Abrahamson of Hettinger, ND; Charlotte (Raymond) Corcoran of Billings MT; Lola Munro of Reeder, ND; brother-in-laws David (Carolyn) Sittner of Mesa, AZ; Donnie (Jeanette) Sittner of Billings, MT; Alvin Sittner of Ocean Side, CA; John (Nancy) Sittner of Billings, MT; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members.


Preceding Donnie in death were his parents, Peter and Bertha, brothers Melford, Irving "Sonny", Jim and Allen "Butch", sisters Adaline, Helen, and Pearl.